Yesterday we learned just a little bit more about Supreme Court nominee Sam Alito when the Washington Times published his 20-year-old application to become deputy assistant to Attorney General Edwin I. Meese III of the Reagan administration. In the document, Alito expressed -- among many things -- pride in being a conservative and an opinion that holds no regard for abortion as constitutionally protected.

Of course, to liberals this means he's "extreme" because to have a different view on on how the Constitution should be interpreted is just that. Reaction from select Democrats has been predictable:

"Judge Alito was clearly trying to pass a litmus test to get a promotion," Mr. Kennedy said. "By his own admission, he was pledging his allegiance against established Supreme Court decisions on ... a woman's constitutional right to privacy."

Karen Pearl, interim president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc., added, "This document shows Judge Alito's judicial philosophy is far more dangerous to the health and safety of American women than the public may have thought."

But if I were a liberal I'd be a lot more concerned about the other stuff Alito wrote on his application - as he went on to say "racial and ethnic quotas should not be allowed" and that he strongly favors "limited government, federalism, free enterprise, the supremacy of the elected branches of government, the need for a strong defense and effective law enforcement, and the legitimacy of a government role in protecting traditional values."

All I have to say on this matter is if Alito gets confirmed to the Supreme Courtr in January the bar will be set rather high for Bush's next pick if given yet another opportunity to reshape the court.